Method of and apparatus for hydraulic pumping



C. J. COBERLY Filed May 10. 1947 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HYDRAULIC PUMPING May 5, 1953 /v VENTO/2: CL AREA/CE d COBERLY By H/s Armmvfvs Patented May 5, 1953 uN-ir En STAT This finvention relit'eef to rnetiieol's'ii of empl? apipaifatus" fori. hydraulic pumping; and! morepar.- tfieuielvl'to :iA methodiendfgoveriningappeiietusfl for` controlling the operation? ofi uid-operate'dl pumpefin wells endotliei 'boiiesi of. liquid limiting.:`

. xiii/'s1 ineluele: ai iiui'i'i motozl Witlil-v ai'i-pflinnlpzi unit? op'ea-tively connected" theifeto adapteur' to' purnpoil; orfothei' well` uidglirom .the Well; tliifough a; production tubingA leading to theftop ating uifdsuchil as. oil; isL pumped under reiez-v tivelyslign' pressurerromzthe top of the vv'ellidown-f wendly through aesupplfy` 'tubing:wliiohfconnectsf to: tnef'iluid motor., Such flui'dopelzitedl pumpe' uref ordinarilyfoperated: at relatively" geeat depth'si infoile wells, under voon'oiti'ons iwliiohfarfemotlob-l servubie'ffrom the groundsurfaeanci,which may; produceu i'iuotuetiony in; thefpunipingj loe,d,; cause ine" 'L the pump l to, reicewh'eii they loud.v lightens; and

to rieurliydifeulieshoek Whenl-'the'pumpsi para t'iuiiyffilling,Withifiuidz To; prevent i'aoingslioekf, andi other ycietr-imeifltil?ieifect's; suchY asi reversed liyorepuliegpiiessurefsuiges foroinpioductionffluidi intoiv-theiw'oifking pants ofthe pumpendtne iluieiy motor-,1 e 'goveinof' 'mechanism may. loeE pruvifie'di c e common meuse of changes-'mythe fpiimp; load1 lthe pump orf'tothervoperationof thevpumpingf 1 pump contiolled vin eeeoidemcef with vthe: depth,

ofitheliquidLseweihavbleto bepumped so. as tol prevent that-Ideptn-from'failiingbelowi 'a desired mini*- mumz i v It is another purpesezeimyfinvention toprovide afflux?. governing: deviceL for' the operating;fluid-` of fiuijcl.- opeated .pumps which fis responsive: directly: toi condiiii'oneeieetingthe opere-tion of thef-pumpf emi so lisneffeotivefs-'tozl control-the operation 'oi-'1 thewpump 'before seienl-`v4 conditions: can prod-neef 1 detiimentalzfeieotsz.

It -isafurtli1erfpurposero? the-invention to pro-- vide a fluid flow governor responsive to the fluidi level iaiFWelIf-'toz control-the pumpingrateo a hydu'rul-io Where theffiuid, level inthe well l reeehes fa predetermi-:neupoint.`

It :is @not-hel? fpurposevoffinw-invention to provideaizviluitl: owf' governor 'l' for av fluid operatedfpumpwhielmwilliprevent the: pump-from laeine:operated` at; ai fspeed excesseofi the; capacity of. L the y 'Well md thust'prevent;therfpump: from pum-pingfga-s with Y:ittendet-iii? damage to the pumpfparts;

Stiil anotheiipurposeot mydn-ventionnis to v'provifief ailuid-ilow'governor'oi the class desceibed in which:` a; valve controllingrthe ilovvv of; operating luijdfis-pilotfopereted -byfa-luid-level r etuetedveli/,eV andf isftheref crever'ipv sensitive to Yiuid. f level changes: p n

A, .furthenpmpese of# my iniflention-i is. top'rovide a, governor of the class describedv having-e Sylphon elememi which;meypeprecherged i to be responsive-tezafpifedeterminecl@fluid vpressureA in the Well embwnieh iseconnected' to-a, pilot valve which in tuengoverns::the-voperatiori-ofa main Valve, so that-When the -well-, pressure exceeds tiie prede-f terminali.pressureythe pilotwalve Ywill be held operi andwill inturrr holdthe mainvalve open.

Another purpose 'ofi my. invention is toprovide uieevemon=oi `vthe. classrdesri-bedhaving a- -Sylphon '-controlle'ct: valve Whichf r11-eyl be* Ieaidil-vl ciiirgech to? `4may desiredi-pressure and-'f whichn is o made in a unit assembly readily interchangeable with other units set for diierent pressures for operative connection to a liuid flow control valve.

Still another purpose of my invention is to provide a governor of the class described having a side passage communicating between a Sylphon element within the governor and the well bore and having means for sealing the operating fluid supply line from said passage.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following speciiication and in the drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic utility View, partly in section, of my invention installed in a well;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the governor of my invention showing the valves in their closed position; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and on a reduced scale.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, I show a well casing ld perforated at its lower end as is common in the art to permit well liquid to flow thereinto from the well formation, and having a casing head l l provided at its upper end. Suspended from the casing head il is a production tubing I2 having secured at its lower end an inlet check valve member i3 provided with an inlet opening ld communicating with a conical pump seat l adapted to receive in .seating relation the lower tapered end of a fluid operated pump i6. The inlet check valve member i3 is so arranged in the inlet opening I4 as t0 permit well fluid to flow through the inlet check valve member into the fluid operated pump but to prevent a reverse flow thereof. The fluid operated pump may be of any suitable type, but I prefer to use a fluid operated pump such as is shown in my above Patent No. 2,119,736, to which reference is hereby made for the details of construction thereof.

For illustrative purposes, a body of well liquid Il is shown within the well casing l5, having a surface level I8, and it is will be understood that the liquid il is to be pumped by the pump i5 and that the surface level I8 will vary in height above the inlet opening lll according to the relative rates of influx through the well casing Il) and of output of the pump I5.

Connected to the upper end of the fluid operated pump i5 is an inlet tubing i9 to which is connected the how governor 25 of my invention at a height normally below the surface level I8. Connected to the upper end of the flow governor 2l] is a string of power tubing 2l which extends through the casing head l i to a surface pumping mechanism 22 of any suitable type adapted to pump an operating fiuid, such as clean oil, under high pressure downwardly through the power tubing 2l, the flow governor 2i), and the inlet tubing l5 to the fluid operated pump I6 to actuate the same. Also connected to the casing head ll and communicating with the production tubing l2 is a discharge pipe 23 adapted to convey huid discharging therethrough to a point of discharge or use (not shown) A special coupling 2li connects upper and lower units of the production tubing l2 at the level of the flow governor il@ and has, between said upper and lower units, an inwardly extending thickened portion 25, forming a guide surface 25, of sufficient diameter to allow the pump l5 to pass downwardly therethrough to rest upon the conical pump seat l5, and fitting slidably upon a housing 21 which enoases the hereafter described members of the governor 25. Vertical passages 2S in the thickened portion 25 of the special coupling 24 connect the interiors of the upper and lower units of the production tubing l2 and permit the pump i6 to pump well liquid upwardly past the housing 2l.

The housing 2'! comprises an upper coupling member 25 threadedly secured to the supply tubing 2l, and a lower coupling member 3B threadedly secured to the inlet tubing i9, the coupling members 25 and 35 being threadedly secured to each other and being externally proportioned to lit closely in the thickened portion of the special coupling 2d. The upper coupling member 29 has an internal bore 3i, in the upper part of which is disposed a cylinder 32, housing a bellows element 33, of the type known as a Sylphon and longitudinally expansible and ccntractible in response to decrease and increase of external pressure. The lower coupling member 35 has an internal bore 3l! housing a cylinder 35 proportioned externally to leave an annular passage 38 between its outer surface and the inner surface of the coupling member 35 and having an extension 37 by which it is threadedly secured in the lower part of the bore 3| of the upper coupling member 25. A cylinder head 38 is threadedly secured in the lower end of the cylinder1 35 and is provided with an extension 39 closely fitting within a guide collar 4l] formed on the inner surface of the lower coupling member 35. The guide collar d serves to keep the cylinder 35 in alignment within the bore 35, to maintain uniform width of the annular passage 3S.

The bellows element 33 is secured, as by soldering or brazing, to a head ll which is threadedly secured to the cylinder 32 and to the upper coupling 29 and is provided with a nut extension 42 by which the cylinder 32 and the bellows element 33 contained therein may be detached from the housing 2'1 by application of a suitable wrench. The head 4I has a bore 43 provided with a check valve chamber 44 in which is a ball check 45, and the bore is closed by a screw plug 46, which may be removed to permit the bellows element S3 to be filled with gas to a desired pressure, the ball check 45 retaining the gas while the plug 46 is being replaced. At its lower end, the bellows element 33 is secured, as by soldering or brazing, to a plunger il proportioned to provide a working space t8 within the cylinder 32 to permit expansion and contraction of the bellows element 33. The plunger il has secured to it a valve stem 4Q of a needle valve 55 which extends downwardly through an orifice 5i in the bottom of the cylinder 32 and through a bore 52 in the extension 31 of the cylinder 35. The needle valve 50 is thus removable from the housing 2'! along with the bellows element 33.

rlhe cylinder 35 has a central boss 53 extending downwardly thereinto and has a bore 54 communicating with the bore 52 and connected therewith by a restricted orifice 55 which forms a seat for the needle valve 55. The lower portion of the bore 52 forms a valve chamber 55 around the needle valve 50 and is connected to the interior of the cylinder 35 by passages 5'1.

A cup-shaped main valve piston 53 fits slidably within the cylinder 35 and has a depending extension 50 on its lower face forming a stem for a main valve 60 of the poppet type extending through an opening 6| in the cylinder head 38. The main Valve 60 is secured to the extension 59 by a retaining nut 62. The extension 59 has a bore 63 communicating between the lower face of the main valve 60 and the bore 54, the main valve piston 58 being provided with an upwardly euterrdingnguideecollan 6.4i: Whi'chelits; slitlalolyA one theiboss .'5 tlf of thefcylinden, Theeextensionic of: the :cylinder head1@sihasiafmanrdischaraeipasa -1 sage; .ttect? witnfawvalve seat'.' 6 Safor vtnezmain@ valve v. andi communicating. between i. vait/e1y enen hier.. 't l? intitlie .iower portioniaof. tliei'openina iii andi tn jinlet tuning'. le; Lateral: passagesrlilf coniinunieate betweenthe. annullarei passage 362 and the valve chainuerfiil, anda: pluralityfo-vetw ticallpassages ii'inlthelupper 'couplingfuiember '29 comm'uni'.cate`I hetweenfthe' suppl'yi` tubing 211i andi the yannularpassagefii; thus proVidi'rig-afthrou'ghf new. 1 channelfrom the.' supplyf tubing.r 21d to' theinletxtubingAv t9; controlled-1bhltli'e*main vali/'1e 6132? To :prevent: 'leakage .past'fthef main valve:t 60,@ tlielextensiensi 3 9 i'skI providedf'fwitli a 'sealing't ringI '1li f bearin .against tl1e'1guide--collar24'e Soffftne limer` `Y ceuplingmeinber 3031 Tnetl extension @592 ofJtlie-f-main lva-lv'efpistonfi ntsiloosely` Within the opening 6'! i of ftlievcylinder head tu so as' t'o `"provide anfannu'lar channel v"1' il' leadingirorn: thevalve chamber 'S1 lto the-interior ofthe'cylinder t'helowrthe pistont; Tl'ieepis ton Eisprovided with' ai restricted orifice 12;'thus providing ia lay-passi around the main valve Gli f' by of tile` upperporticnofithe cylinder 36,5 pas-2"'- sages di the needle Valve'chamberY 5t; oriiiee 55- and` bores E2 and '153; Theorice'E23'prcn/'idesa` restriction infthisf bypass,` so that opening; of i the needle valvev il-fwill' establisiialimited' `How* of" fluid through tlef byepass, and thisflimiteolf flowylk Will' set up' pressure 'gradient acting on vthe --pise tony 5e? tendine; to mover it Jupwardl`Ja 'iiepi'storr t `is urged downwardly: tending 'toiioldI the-'main' valve 5 closedi byfaspring1ibearing"against"the top thepiston'- and against .the Aupper pnrti'onI of thecylinder 35i The `cylinder'gf'is provided withr a` pluralitycf" radial openings 134 which" communicate withV`V radial passagesrl"inthe-upper coupling inemf her 29. A- relatifvely wide annular channel'lA is formed in` thecuter surface of theupper'couplin'g member 29', with" which thepassages i5 communicate,` and apluralitvoill radial'passages 11in tnef'specialcoupling '241' complete the channei through which liquidiint'ne- Well casingil may' enterthe cylinderV 321i' Thus; theV iluid pressure in'. the well at thelevel 'offt'n'e passages 11'" is"in1- posed upon the exterior of' thebellows element 33'; The annular channel4 1i`-"p1'ovides-someleeway in. the vertical placement of the hcusingi'" relatively' tol the special coliplingltli,` in a zone determined by placement of tlief-pu'rnpii on .the conical'purnp seat l5 andby'the lengthc the inlet tubing 19. To isolate the radial' passages li and 'd1 from the upper and lowerlunits'othepro; duction tubing i2, which will contain-liquid' ata.` higher. pressure than the pressurein the Well casing` iii, the outer surface of the upper coupling member is provided with grooveslabove and below the annular channel 15,' an'dlthegrooves 1d? are provided withsealing ringe 1l"'Which'. seal the housing 21 to the special coupling "iwliil permitting' relativev vertical movement thereof Prior to installation of the' governor-2li ,in the 'L well, theoellows element BQischargedWVith gas through the cheek valve Mito such pressure that it will Vresist compression until the externalpressureto which it is-subjectedis the pressure de.- veloped 'hydrostatically by a column ofiiquidin theV Weil casing iattaining a desired" height above the level of the-passages'l'l.

n` operation, and Whentlie governor, 2E) is ine--4 stalled in' the Well as shown in Fig., 1, ,whenith surface level ofthe vliduiclf'nthe Wellfcasing,Iilfis,J

751pumpil| isumcient to.-.provide:a.nadmstaticpresef atiaa-heighttgreatemtlian.theidesinedeheight-ffcrr:- whichl the.' bellows; element;y 33t` is :charged the?.

pressure ot the:,well liquid :lenterings th'ezicylinder B2i throughathe radialpassages- 11;;channel3-f1.1i;i and :radial I passages 115 :Willilcompressf-the bellows 5 element. 33 and? causezit toiraiseitheapiungeif all:

pressure-foperatinguiiiuidito zowffromithfe pou/'enf tubing 2|, passages $9, annular passage St, late eral; passagesif; andlvalyefcnaniberfel, .through the bf-'passflicomprisin the'.annularchannel 1.11,'.

tnelowergt'portiorrfof: th cylinders' 31,1. orncef: 1

\ upper; portierel yon theV cylinder.: 35,1 passaeesff 51.;

needle Valve chamber 5B, orice 554; and-b'Dreef'Eni"l and 83, to the dischargeepassagefeianaitlience totthefinlettuioing.llandztneipump 18. Flew-of thernigntpressure Huid from-ithe-:lower portion-f` of. the* .cylinder 35'1tothe upperiportion' thereonthroughtneforibeilzwillicreateapressure gradil toni` tof rise:.against1theresistance of. thev4 spr-inav era-ting: 'uid to 1. flowl: directlyfrcm." theff valve casinefvl` throughithe production' tubingA ito' the?l discharge-apipei; the"liquid.passingiaround' the governorY 2e' tlrroughfthefpassages: 22Min-ther special couplingtlli Conversely;v when the i. surface/.Asvel l 'ortneg.

sired height corres'pendingv toth'ef'internal. prese' mentwill expand, causing tnezneedlefvalvee to. close` andato: cutlof thezflowfof operating fluid through'` the. alcove described byu-pass: Hydraulic.

pressure. onithev facesof: .the piston." 58T will. .theirv bei` equalized. and.' the; spring 13.' will:l move the piston;V downwardly; closing the mainf vaive siii and."` cutting'othe supply` of operati-ngfrfui'd to-` theipump u I t As abellowselernent suchasfis hereinidescribed expandsandicontractsresponsivelyv to .changes in theupressure differentialv on. its 'external and in' teruel: :surfaces occurring over. a1-predetermined I rangerather than. atia'predetermined degree,z the lifting and lowering-1 of-i'tlie needle valve' 15e -will Ilot-be'4 abrupt; but` will'` he.` gradual,V followingV i changed, theI resultant pressure gradient across.

thepiston"5 @will 'gradually change, and the vmain Valve Bil will lbe. raised. and. lowered'y gradire Thesupply of operating amertume-pump le Wm therefore be .regulated tomaintainfthe punipi at an. .operatingspeed tending-to pumpv liquid` from tliewellcasing- I6 atv theysamel ratey that liquidi.

flows into the:casingjanizl,toh rnaintainzthe hydro?-v staticepressurefat thefra'dialpassages ,11 substan-v tiallycons-tant vs0 long; asathe :inflow: of liquid' into'.

Well. pump,.l 6 andacorresponding'increase ,inthe `ratecf.,-lulnpngiy .andfiafV decrease finzthe '.rateof inflow.` will .cause aA corresponding). decrease in:A the rateof. pumping, evenrto the pointiofrshutting.: downsthe ,pump..- Liquidfin .the;wellf-casingfffiii is .1 thus alwaysh maintained: at;` aslheighti-abovestheir sure-head on the pump and to prevent the pump from pumping gas and consequently racing.

The cylinder 32, bellows element 33, needle valve 50, and head 4|, form a unit which is readily removable from the upper coupling member 29 by unscrewing the head 4I from the member 29, and may be replaced by a similar unit charged to any desired pressure, or may be adjusted to any desired pressure by admission or release of gas through the check valve chamber 44.

Various possible changes in the arrangements and proportions of the parts and passages of my invention will be apparent to any person skilled in the art and do not depart from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fluid operated pumping system for wells, the combination of: a uid operated pump adapted to be installed in a well; `power tubing communicating with said pump and adapted to convey operating uid under high pressure downwardly through said weil to actuate said pump; production tubing communicating with said pump and adapted to convey the discharge from said pump upwardly through the well; a uid flow governor disposed in the line of said power tubing and adapted to control the ow of said operating fluid therethrough; and pressure responsive means for controlling the operation of said govu ernor in response to variations in the level of liquid in the well, including a fluid passage communicating between the interior of said governor and the exterior of said production tubing at a point adjacent to said governor.

2. In a fluid operated pumping system for wells, the combination of: a uid operated pump adapted to be installed in a well; power tubing adapted to convey operating fluid under high pressure downwardly through said well to actuate said pump; production tubing concentric with said power tubing and adapted to convey the discharge from said pump upwardly through the well; collar means in the line of said production tubing and having a lateral fluid passage communicating between the interior and exterior of said production tubing, said colar means also having a longitudinal passage communicating between the upper and lower ends thereof so as to permit said pump discharge to flow upwardly therethrough; and a uid flow governor disposed within said collar means and connected in the line of said power tubing and being adapted to control the flow of said operating fluid therethrough, said governor being provided with a uid control passage adapted to communicate with said lateral fluid passage to permit the entry of well iiuid into said governor.

3. In a fluid operated pumping systemfor wells the combination of: a fluid operated pump adapted to be installed in a well; power tubing adapted to convey operating fluid under high pressure downwardly through said well to actuate said pump; production tubing concentric with said power tubing and adapted to convey the discharge from said pump upwardly through the well; collar means in the line of said production tubing and having a lateral fluid passage communicating between the interior and exterior of said production tubing, said collar means also having a longitudinal passage communicating between the upper and lower ends thereof so as to permit said pump discharge to flow upwardly therethrough; a iiuid flow governor disposed within said collar means and connected in the line of said power tubing and being adapted to control the ow of said operating fluid therethrough, said governor being provided with a fluid control passage adapted to communicate with said lateral fluid passage to permit the entry of well fluid into said governor; and fluid sealing means disposed between said governor and said collar means on each side of said fluid control and lateral uid passages.

4. In a device adapted for connection to a pair of concentric tubings, the combination of: collar means adapted to be connected-to the outer one of said tubings, said collar means having a lateral fluid passage therethrough and having a. longitudinal fluid passage therethrough communicating between the upper and lower ends thereof; and a fluid flow governor disposed within said collar means and adapted to be connected to the inner one of said tubings, said governor being adapted to control a ow of fluid through said inner one of said tubings, said governor being provided with a fluid control passage adapted to communicate with said lateral iluid passage.

5. In a device adapted for connection to a pair of concentric tubings, the combination of: collar means adapted to be connected to the outer one of said tubings, said collar means having a lateral fluid passage therethrough and having a longitudinal uid passage therethrough communicating between the upper and lower ends thereof; a iiuid ow governor disposed within said collar means and adapted to be connected to the inner one of said tubings, said governor being adapted to control a flow of fluid through said inner one of said tubings, said governor being provided with a fluid control passage adapted to communicate with said lateral fluid passage; and iluid sealing means disposed between said governor and said collar means and adapted to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween both above and below said iiuid control and lateral iluid passages.

6. In a governor for controlling the rate of flow of operating fluid to a fluid operated pump adapted to operate in a well below the surface level of a body of liquid to be pumped and having a production conduit for said liquid and a supply conduit for said operating fluid, the combination of: main valve means for controlling the rate of flow of operating iiuid through said governor; pilot valve means for causing said main valve means to open and to close; and means responsive to uctuations in the surface level of said body of liquid in the well for actuating said pilot valve means, including an element connected to said pilot valve means and exposed to said body of liquid.

7. In a governor for controlling the rate of flow of operating fluid to a fluid operated pump adapted to operate in a well below the surface level of a body of liquid to be pumped and having a production conduit for said liquid and a supply conduit for said operating iiuid, the combination of main valve means for controlling the rate of flow of operating fluid through said governor; pilot valve means adapted by opening and closing respectively to cause said main valve means to open and to close; and means responsive to fluctuations in the surface level of said body of liquid in the weil for opening and closing said pilot valve means, including an element connected to said pilot valve means and exposed to said body of liquid.

:8. In a governor for controlling the rate of flow of operating fluid to a fluid operated pump adapted to operate below the surface level of a body of liquid to be pumped and having a. proagonists duction conduit for :rsaid id liquid :and a :supply conduit'fforrsaid operatingiiuidy the combination of annain ivalveffor controlling .the flow of/ operating.;iiuid;through said governor; meansformingra :bv-,nassiior :by-passing saidzfluid past fsaid mai-n z'valve; means: responsive yto oiv :of wsaid fluid through said lay-pass for ',openingisaid' main valve;a ;pilot valve Aadapted tocontrol the flou' ofsaidzfluid through .said hyp-pass; and `pressureactuated means responsive yto ,hydrostatic :pressure insaid body of liquid and iperativelyconne'ctedto saidjpilot valve `for` openingrsaid pilot valve in response to an increase in said hydrostatic pressure.

`a governor for controlling thexratefof ilovv of operating, fluid to. a fluid `operated pump adapted to operate below Athe surface .ilevelof a body ',of 4 liquid` tobe pumped i and having asproduction conduit for said liquid land :a supply conduitior said operating fluidithe 4combination of :armain valve for Vcontrolling the, now of toperating` duid through rsaid governor; means responsive to the vestablishment 'of ,a limited flow through said governor for fopening said ,main valve; a pilot valve adapted to establish a .limited flou/of said fluid through said governor; `and pressure-actuated means :connected rito. said,y pilot valve and responsive to an Vincrease in hydrostatic `pressure in isaid body of liquid to open said pilot valveandI responsive to a decrease in saidipressure Vto close. said pilot valve.

i0. Aggoverncr for controlling thelflovv in the fluid supplyline ofza iiuidoperated pumpadapted to loe-immersed in a body of liquid to lbe pumped, including: two valves for regulatingthe ilow ,of said pressurefluidand so arranged that theiflow therethrough is in parallel, one of said valves being adapted to be opened .by the establishment of fiovv in the flow channel of ytheiotheroffsaid valves; .fa bellows-elementoperatively connected to said other of said valves, and responsive to an increase and a decrease in hydrostatic pressure in said body of liquid-.Within `afpredeterrnined range for `respectively opening and closing said other valve; andlpassage means communicating between-said bellovvselement and said body of liquid tube-pumped iorcommunicating thepressurein said body of'liquid to said bellows element.

il. A governor for controlling ther flow in the fluidsupply line of a fluid operated pump to ybe immersed in a bodyof liquid to be pumped, including: a main valve for controlling-the-ilovv of operating iuid through saidgovernor; means formingaby-pass for ley-passing said fluid past said main. valve; a piston in-said'hy-pass operatively connected to said main valve and adapted to. open said main valve responsively to a predetermined `fluid pressure drop. in .said oy-pass; springs-means urging said main .valve towards its closed position in counter-action to said pressure drop; l,a pilot valve in said Ibyfpass adapted to regulate ...said pressure drop; yabellows element operatively connected to saidp'ilot valve for opening and closing said pilot valve in response respectively to an increase-and tola decrease in pressure on said bellows element; and housing means for saidbelloivs element defining. a passage communicating with the exterior of said element and with said body oi liquid whereby hydrostatic pressure in said body of liquid is imposed on said element.

l2. A governor for controlling the flow in the fluid supply line of a fluid operated pump in a Well and adapted to be immersed in a body of liquid to be pumped, including: a housing adapted to be disposed in a well and having a fluid passage through one Wall thereof which communicates F I0 1wwith: said body .of liquidto be pumped; a pilot -valve Within said housing; far main valve Within saidhousingin lparallel with saidpilot valvefand adapted toi-be opened in `response to-aflovv of luid Itl'iroughz'said pilot valve; and a bellows element within said. housing 'and operatively connected tto -said pilot valve andadapted-to control the operation of said pilot valve in response to variations .in ,iiuidpressure 'on the'eXter-ior of said bellows element, vsaid fluid passagecommunicating with said exteriorof s .id bellows-element.

i3. in a v governor for controlling the rate fof flow of operating fluid to a fluid operatedv pump adapted'to-1operate below the surface level or a body of liquidftobepumped, said pumpicomniunieating with;-a.production tconduit for said liquid anda supply conduit for said operating. iuid, the combination or t a housing for said governor communicating with said supply conduit andA insertable in nsaid production conduit ,at a prede- .terminedlevellielow Athe normal surface level of said bodyof liquid; Iabellovis `element removably secured in said housingand adaptedtoeirpand and contract in response to .changes iii-external pressure, 3 said 'housing and said productioniconduit having passages communicating with the exterior oi -saidelement and with the exterior .of saidproduction conduit; and valve means for regulating the .flow of iluidthrough said governor including a `valve operatively connected to said bellows element and adapted to openresponsively to an increase in pressure onvsaid element.

lll.. In a governor for controlling the rate oi :flow or" operating -iiuid Vto a iiuid operated pump adapted to operate below the surface .level-loi' `a body of'liquid to be pumped, said pump communieating with aproduction .conduit iorsaidliquid a supply conduitior, said operating uid,.the combination of a housing for saidigovernoncominunicating withsaidsupply conduit and insertable in said :production .conduit at a ,predetermined level below thenormal surfacelevel of said loodylof. liquid;l a bellows eleinentsecure'din said V,houai-ng,said ,bellows .element having .an opening iorireceivinga .gas charge and a closure for said openingsaid closure including archeck valve whereby said .element may be chargedto withstand ,apredeterrnined degree .of Aexternal pressure, .said `elementbeing adapted to vexpand and contract in response to changes in external pressure, said housing and said production conduithaving registering orioes communicating with v`the .exterior of said. element and with the exterior .of saidproduction conduit; and valve means for regulating the now of Iluidthrough said governor including a valve operatively connected to said bellows element and adapted to open responsively. to an increase in pressure on said element.

l5. A governor'for controlling the rate of flow of a iiuid to'a fluid-'operatedpump disposed ina Well, including: a passageor the fluid; a valve seat enconflpassing'said'` passage; a valve element adapted 'to engage said valve'seatto closesaid passage; `a1pistonielement connected to said valve element; meansfor exposing one side of said piston element'to' fluid pressure obtaininginsaid passage'upstream from` said Avalve seat;"means for applying a variable fluid pressure to the opposite side oi said piston element; and means eX- posed to uid pressure obtaining exteriorly or" said governor for varying said variable iluid pressure.

i6. En a governor for controlling the rate of flow of a fluid to a Huid-operated pump disposed in a well in a body of liquid to be pumped, the combination of: housing means providing a main `11 passage and a pilot passage in parallel, said housing means also providing a bellows chamber and further providing a vent passage which connects said bellows chamber to the exterior of said housing means and communicates with said body oi liquid to be pumped; a bellows in said bellows chamber; a pilot valve within said housing means and operatively connected to said bellows for controlling ow through said pilot passage; a main valve within said housing means for controlling flow through said main passage; and means for operating said main valve in response to variations in the rate of ow through said pilot passage.

17. A governor as set forth in claim 16 wherein the means last mentioned comprises a piston connected to said main valve, said governor including means providing an orifice which connects the ends of said piston and which forms part of said pilot passage.

18. In a governor adapted to be disposed in a well in a body of liquid to be pumped for controlling the rate of ilow of an operating fluid to a duid-operated pump in said body of liquid to be pumped, the combination of: a cylindrical housing provided with a longitudinal passage therethrough for the fluid; axially movable main valve means within said housing for controlling the rate of flow of fluid through said longitudinal passage; axially movable pilot valve means within said housing and axially aligned with said main valve means for operating said main valve means; and axially movable, pressure actuable means Within said housing and axially aligned with said pilot valve means and said main valve means for operating said pilot valve means, said housing being provided with a passage through one wall thereof to expose said pressure actuable means to fluid pressure obtaining exteriorly of said housing in said body of liquid to be pumped.

19. A governor for controlling the rate of ilow of operating iluid through a supply line leading to a fluid-operated pump which is adapted to pump liquid from a body of liquid in a well, including: a main valve for regulating the rate of flow of operating fluid through the supply line to the pump; a pilot valve connected in parallel with said main valve so that part of the operating uid owing through the supply line to the pump can flow through said pilot valve; pressure actuable means responsive to flow through said pilot valve and connected to said main valve for opening said main valve; and pressure responsive means exposed to the fluid pressure obtaining in the body of liquid in the well exteriorly of the governor and connected to said pilot valve for actuating said pilot valve.

20. In a governor for controlling the operation of a fluid-operated pump which is adapted to pump liquid from a body of such liquid, the combination of: housing means providing a main passage and a by-pass passage in parallel, said housing means being adapted to be disposed in the line of a conduit for delivering operating fluid under pressure to the pump, whereby to permit the operating fluid to flow through said main and by-pass passages; means for varying the rate of ow of operating fluid through said by-pass passage in accordance with variations in the fluid pressure obtaining in the body of liquid at a point adjacent the pump; and means for varying the rate of llow of operating fluid through said main passage in accordance with variations in the ilow of operating fluid through said by-pass passage.

21. In a fluid-operated pumping system for wells, the combination of: a fluid-operated pump adapted to be installed in a well; passage means, including a power tubing communicating with said pump, for conveying operating fluid under pressure downwardly through said well to actu ate said pump; production tubing communicating with said pump for conveying the discharge from said pump upwardly through the well; and a governor independent of said pump and responsive solely to variations in the level of liquid in the well for controlling the flow of operating fluid through said passage means to said pump, said governor including a valve in said passage means and including a device responsive to variations in the level of liquid in the well for continuously moving said valve as the level of liquid in the well varies.

22. In a governor for controlling the rate of flow of operating iluid under pressure to a fluidoperated pump adapted to operate in a well below the surface of a body of liquid to be pumped and having a production tubing for the pumped liquid and a power tubing for the operating fluid, the combination of: a passage; a main valve in said passage for controlling the rate of flow of operating iluid therethrough; pressure actuable means adapted to have a variable pressure diierential applied thereto for operating said main valve; pilot valve means communicating with said pressure actuable means for varying the pressure differential applied thereto so as to move said main valve; and means connected to said pilot valve means and responsive to variations in the level of said body of liquid in the well and exposed to said body of liquid in the well for actuating said pilot valve means.

CLARENCE J. COBERLY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,656,136 Arrasmith Jan. 10, 1928 2,005,995 Knox June 25, 1935 2,046,588 Sproull July 7, 1936 2,119,736 Coberly June 7, 1938 2,152,802 Harris Apr. 4, 1939 2,208,554 Price July 16, 1940 2,230,787 Swain Feb. 4, 1941 2,266,356 Coberly Dec. 16, 1941 2,277,746 Downs Mar. 31, 1942 2,333,857 Grayson Nov. 9, 1943 2,385,316 Walton Sept. 18, 1945 2,423,111 OLeary July 1, 1947 2,435,179 McGovney Jan. 27, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 356,931 Germany Aug. 8, 1922 

